Robin Anderson

Candidate for Labor Commissioner

Name as it appears on the ballot: Robin AndersonParty: DemocratDate of Birth: June 18, 1958Campaign Web Site:www.andersonforlabor.orgOccupation & Employer: Attorney, Nicholls & Crampton, PAYears lived in North Carolina: 22

1.What do you see as the most important issues facing the Department of
Labor and working people in North Carolina? If elected, what are your top
three priorities in addressing those issues?

The single most important issue for the Commissioner of Labor is protecting
working families in North Carolina. The incumbent has spent her time in office
appeasing bad businesses and reducing inspections. To protect our workers we
have to be proactive in enforcing the laws to avoid any more heartbreaking
stories such as the one told about workers of the House of Raeford in recent
investigations by the media.

My top priorities in protecting working families would be to proactively investigate
bad businesses, enforce the law to ensure businesses change bad practices,
and work with the legislature for new laws surrounding the issues facing working
families such as the minimum wage, migrant housing and ergonomic standards.

2. What in your record as a public official or other experience demonstrates
your ability to be effective on the issues youve identified? Please be as
specific as possible in relating past accomplishments to current goals.

I have spent the last 18 years as an employment attorney representing workers
and businesses in matters such as wage and hour, discrimination and retaliation,
all of which are regulated by the Department of Labor.

Also, in 1999 I was appointed by the State Senate to serve on the State
Personnel Commission; and I was appointed in 2003 by Governor Easley as the
first woman to serve as the Chair of the Commission. As such, for the past 9
years, as a Commissioner in State Personnel, I have shaped workplace policy for
almost 100,000 state employees.

No other candidate has the same range of policy and enforcement experience.
North Carolina needs someone who can enforce the laws to protect workers
rights; who can promote training and education; and who can advocate for
improved protective legislation concerning job safety and health.

3. How do you define yourself politically, and how does your political
philosophy show itself in your past achievements and present campaign
platform?

I am a Democrat, but it is my hope that the issues I will be talking about during
this campaign will transcend normal party politics. I do not think that keeping
workers safe is a Democratic or Republican issue. In the same way, I think
Democrats and Republicans should both be outraged at the arrogance and
incompetence shown by the incumbent over the past 7 years brought to the
forefront with her recent refusal to begin enforcing the laws of this state following
the investigations into the House of Raeford.

For more information on my present campaign platform please reference both my
website, at www.andersonforlabor.org and the press releases that I have attached.

4. The Independents mission is to help build a just community in the Triangle
and North Carolina. Please point to a specific position in your platform that
would, if achieved, help further that goal.

One of the largest sources of inequality in our society comes from income
inequality. Currently a worker who works full time for an entire year at minimum
wage earns approximately 55% of the poverty level for a family of four. Our
country was founded on the idea that if you worked hard you would get ahead,
and we must ensure that an honest days work gets you an honest days pay. As
such I would support a raise in the minimum wage and tying the minimum wage
to inflation.

Further, as Commissioner it would be my priority to fully prosecute wage and
hour violations to ensure that workers are paid what they have earned and are
not taken advantage of by companies looking to pad their profit.

5. Identify and explain one principled stand you would be willing to take if
elected that you suspect might cost you some popularity points with
voters.

I would support abolishing the death penalty in North Carolina.

6. If these issues havent been addressed above, would you please
comment on:

Workplace health: Recent reports have identified serious problems
in some of North Carolinas poultry- and hog-slaughtering factories.
What changes would you make to the Labor Departments
practices in this area? What policy changes would you advocate at
the General Assembly? What is the best way to ensure that these
plants quickly come into compliance? What is the role of financial
penalties in forcing companies to comply with the law? What dollar
amounts do you think would incent companies to comply?

The first and most important change that I would make is that I would be moreproactive in inspecting companies  the incumbent has been reactive, onlyinvestigating after problems occur. I would pro-actively investigate companiesand do spot inspections, particularly of companies with the highest risk of injury. I would also refuse to negotiate fines with companies who violate safetymeasures and place employees in a dangerous situation.

The current incumbent has said that she does not believe fines work. I know that
if they are applied justly they are vital to ensuring that businesses change their
practices.

Migrant labor: What more should the Labor Department be doing to
assure decent working and living conditions for migrant workers,
including farmworkers?

As with other workplaces, we need to be more proactive in conducting
inspections and enforcing the laws. However, as Commissioner I would also
push hard for new legislation that is necessary to ensure housing that is
adequate and decent for working families.

Jobs: Are there steps your department should be taking to help the
working people of North Carolina move up the ladder i.e.,
secure and retain better jobs at better pay?

I support increasing the minimum wage and tying the increase to inflation. The
Department of Labor also overseas a job training and apprenticeship program
that should be expanded and strengthened. As Commissioner I would push for
better wages, I would enforce the laws protecting wage and hour for working
families and I would level the playing field to encourage honest businesses to
create new jobs in North Carolina.

7. Should public employees have the right to bargain collectively in North
Carolina?

As outlined in HB 1583, I would support giving public employees the ability to
collectively bargain. I support a change in the law because I believe that all
workers should be provided the same protections in the workplace.

8. Turnover and short-staffing in the compliance division and wage and hour
bureau continues to be a problem for the department. How would you
address these personnel issues? What are the ramifications of the
turnover and short-staffing? What funding would be necessary and how
would you make the case for a larger appropriation from the legislature? If
no additional funding is appropriated, how would you keep up with the
caseload?

When a Department has high turnover the department loses the institutional
knowledge needed to be able to complete the necessary investigations and issue
citations, if appropriate, in a timely manner. The turnover and short staffing
causes a backlog of complaints within the department, but more importantly
postpones a resolution for North Carolina workers.

As Chair of the State Personnel Commission I have worked hard to help protect
the employees of this state. Having set the internal policies that help to keep
state employees I have a working knowledge of what internal steps need to be
taken within both the Department of Labor and the State to slow turnover. I also
know that the employees of the Department of Labor are more than capable of
doing the job, so long as they are not handcuffed by the Commissioner.

9. As member of the Council of State, you would have input on the issue of
the death penalty, including the execution protocol, which was taken up by
the Council last year. Do you feel qualified to vote on such issues? If so,
how would you vote on the execution protocol and other death penalty
matters that may come before the Council? And is the Council of State an
appropriate body to deliberate these issues?

I believe I am the only candidate for a Council of State office who has
represented a death row inmate in a North Carolina death penalty appeal. Early
in my career as a lawyer, I volunteered over 500 pro bono hours on a state
appeal. I support abolishing the death penalty. Nevertheless, this is a legislative
matter; however, I would continue to work towards an end to the death penalty in
North Carolina.